UNIQUE HISTORIC CASTLE 'HOF TER LAEKEN' in BELGIUM

ME Spot - The caretaker of Hof ter Laeken gave me a very unique look and tour of this 14th century castle in Heist-op-den-Berg in Belgium.

BELGIUM | ME SPOT | CULTURE

Because there is still a baron, there are rarely visitors on the 320,000 square metre  (350,000 square yard) domain and the castle. I was shown a few places that were never shown before.

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"The lindens along
the lane are
​700 years old."

The one kilometer long 'Hofdreef' and access to the domain already made a huge impression when I arrived. The lindens along the lane are 700 years old, the caretaker told me later. The Hof ter Laeken is a beautiful green country estate and includes a castle with accompanying park. The castle acquired its current view after some enlargement and restoration work in the period 1780-1868, but the first stones date from 1339. The history of the Hof ter Laeken, however, goes back to around 1200. This site was once home to a military castle.

The long 'Hofdreef' with lindens

The vast domain

In the castle park, which covers some 20,000 square metres (21,900 square yards) of the plain of the river 'Grote Nete', a number of giant, age-old oaks grow and a very valuable vegetation grows. The domain overlooks the river that flows here. In the past, the meadows and forests, in the vicinity of the domain, belonged to the castle residents. Around the castle are vests, called 'laken' in Dutch. Therefore the name 'Hof ter Laeken'.

Inside the castle

The accompanying castle farm

Many Belgian films, including Pallieter, and some episodes of various TV series were also recorded on this domain.

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"​For the first time it
was show​n to someone
​from outside."

In addition to a castle, this castle domain also houses a beautiful castle farm, which is in need of restoration but is therefore no less beautiful. For the first time it was shown to someone from outside. The caretaker's garden is also immensely beautiful and houses some rare plants and a whole host of varieties of chickens and show pigeons. I only got a glimpse of the orchard due to a lack of time. I also was able to see the old ice cellar in the middle of the forest on which a chapel was built on top. 

The whole tour was peppered with juicy stories and anecdotes about the noble family who still inhabited this castle.

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​Read also

Hof ter Laeken in pictures
- PHOTO

Unique view on the historic castle and park Hof ter Laeken.

BELGIUM
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PUBLISHED BY
Thierry Hanan Scheers
With a backpack  and hiking boots Thierrry Hanan travels around the world. Final destination? Somewhere, nowhere and everywhere.
Backpacker & Storyteller

BELGIUM | ME SPOT | CULTURE

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